All of them were equally bad — Coimbatore, Dehradun, Pachmarhi. When I was imprisoned in Coimbatore jail, the state was under Governor’s rule. When Karunanidhi took over, I was shifted to a jungle near Dehradun. Nobody was allowed to meet me. Around 1,000 cops used to guard me. I often told them that if a cop asks me to sit at a spot, I’d keep sitting there. Where would I run away?

•You were in solitary confinement in Pachmarhi, with only animals around.

Yes. Pachmarhi is the best place in India.

•I heard you had tamed some animals there.

Yes, to pass time.

•Are you an animal lover?

Yes. I am fond of trees as well. I used to ask people to bring seeds and flowering plants for me. Even the jail personnel appreciated that.

•I’ve heard you had tamed a cat in Pachmarhi.

That used to keep me engaged. What could I do all day long, with no newspaper, no radio; TV was a distant dream.

•Tell me about your animal companions in Pachmarhi.

I had tamed a kitten; she grew up and became pregnant. I have observed a cat’s character very closely. A male kitten wants to kill another male kitten. Very few male kittens survive.

•You’d joke that when those kittens bore children, only then you’d be released.

That was a different time.

•But you weren’t ready to meet anyone either. R D Pradhan, who was the Home Secretary at that time, has written in his book that he went to meet you and you bolted your door.

... contd.